Daily Customs & Foreign Trade Update
India Customs, Regulatory Developments & International Trade
Executive Summary
The official-source review for 21 October 2026 identified developments relating to customs adjudication, import compliance, foreign trade risk management and trade-remedy investigations.
CBIC: Notification No. 87/2026-Customs (N.T.) concerns appointment of a Common Adjudicating Authority in the case of M/s Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. CBIC Instruction No. 21/2026-Customs, dated 19 October, is also relevant to the acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin under the India–New Zealand FTA.
DGFT: Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 concerns PSIC exemption conditions for specified metallic waste and scrap imports. Trade Notice No. 31/2026-27 advises heightened vigilance in dealings with M/s Julfikar Fashions Limited, Bangladesh.
DGTR: A Copper Data Cables corrigendum, an extension in the Counterbalance Forklifts investigation and an interested-party list in the Decor Paper sunset review were identified.
Judicial review: No qualifying customs-related judgment or order dated 21 October 2026 was identified in the official judicial listings reviewed for this edition. CESTAT’s Customs weekly dispatch report is an administrative record, not itself a new judgment.
The article distinguishes reporting-date developments from earlier instruments that remain relevant to current compliance. The absence of an item from a section means that no qualifying development was identified in the official listings reviewed, not that no other development occurred.
1. Customs Act, 1962 & CBIC Notifications
1.1 Common Adjudicating Authority Appointed in Amway India Enterprises Case
Notification No. 87/2026-Customs (N.T.) | 21 October 2026
CBIC issued Notification No. 87/2026-Customs (N.T.) concerning appointment of a Common Adjudicating Authority in the case of M/s Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. The scope of the appointment should be read with the notices and particulars contained in the original notification.
Professional Impact
Parties involved in the specified proceedings should identify the authority and notices covered. The appointment is procedural and is not a final determination of the allegations or duty liability.
Official Sources
1.2 India–New Zealand FTA: Customs Duty Concession Instrument
Notification No. 32/2026-Customs | 16 October 2026
CBIC issued Notification No. 32/2026-Customs to give effect to the first tranche of tariff concessions under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Although issued before the reporting date, it remains relevant to eligible imports following the agreement’s entry into force on 20 October 2026.
The applicable treatment depends on the tariff entry, conditions and rules of origin. Importers should not assume that every product originating in New Zealand automatically qualifies for preferential duty.
Professional Impact
Verify tariff classification, the applicable concession, origin requirements and any entry-specific conditions before filing a preferential claim.
Official Sources
2. DGFT & Foreign Trade Policy
2.1 PSIC Exemption Conditions for Specified Metallic Waste and Scrap Imports
Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 | 21 October 2026
DGFT issued Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 concerning the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) requirement for metallic waste and scrap imports. The exemption and safeguards apply only to consignments meeting the prescribed conditions.
- Supplier or scrap-yard certificate: The consignment must have a certificate confirming that it contains no radioactive materials or explosives.
- Designated entry sea ports: Chennai, Tuticorin, Kandla, JNPT, Mumbai, Krishnapatnam, Mundra, Kattupalli, Hazira, Kamarajar and Adani Gangavaram.
- Mandatory checks: Radiation and explosive checks through portal monitors and container scanners remain required at the designated ports.
- Transshipment restriction: Transshipment through designated safe countries or regions does not itself qualify a consignment for the exemption.
- ICD clearance: Clearance at an Inland Container Depot is subject to the prescribed entry-port conditions and required proof.
Professional Impact
Importers should reassess documentation and logistics against the amended provision. It should not be treated as a general waiver of PSIC for all metallic scrap imports.
Official Sources
2.2 Advisory on Dealings with Julfikar Fashions Limited, Bangladesh
Trade Notice No. 31/2026-27 | 21 October 2026
DGFT issued Trade Notice No. 31/2026-27 concerning M/s Julfikar Fashions Limited, Mirpur, Bangladesh, under paragraph 8.07(d) of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023. The notice relates to a Quality Control and Trade Dispute complaint and advises stakeholders to exercise heightened vigilance and due diligence when dealing with the company.
The advisory addresses Export Promotion Councils, industry associations, Regional Authorities, ECGC, Authorised Dealer Banks and other concerned entities. It calls for careful transaction-risk assessment and reporting relevant adverse experiences, including payment-related issues and contractual disputes.
Professional Impact
Exporters and other businesses considering transactions with the company should undertake appropriate commercial and payment-risk checks before proceeding. The advisory is precautionary and should not be described as a blanket prohibition on transactions or a final adjudication of the complaint.
Official Source
3. Customs Circulars, Public Notices & Procedural Instructions
3.1 Acceptance of Electronic Certificates of Origin under India–New Zealand FTA
CBIC Instruction No. 21/2026-Customs | 19 October 2026
CBIC Instruction No. 21/2026-Customs addresses acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin (e-CoO) issued by New Zealand’s issuing bodies under the India–New Zealand FTA. It refers to Notification No. 82/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 12 October 2026, concerning rules for determining origin under the agreement.
The instruction addresses documentary requirements, electronic filing and verification of certificates. The prescribed e-CoO must be uploaded on e-Sanchit, and certificate particulars such as certification number, date and originating criteria must be declared accurately in the Bill of Entry. The instruction also addresses authenticity checks, referral of doubts for verification, duplicate use of certificate numbers and transitional cases involving qualifying goods in transit or under customs control when the agreement entered into force.
Professional Impact
Importers and Customs Brokers handling New Zealand-origin goods should confirm certificate validity, upload the document correctly, enter origin particulars accurately and retain supporting records. Goods in transit or under customs control on the entry-into-force date require particular attention to transitional provisions.
Official Sources
3.2 Other Customs Procedural Notices
The available CBIC, ICEGATE and selected Customs Commissionerate listings were considered. No additional qualifying nationwide customs procedural instrument dated 21 October 2026 was independently confirmed for inclusion in this section. This does not imply that every local notice across every Customs formation was exhaustively checked.
Professional Impact
Customs Brokers and importers should verify the latest instructions applicable to their port, commodity and filing workflow before changing operational procedures.
Official Sources
4. Supreme Court, High Courts & CESTAT Case Laws
No new qualifying customs-related judgment or order dated 21 October 2026 was identified in the official judicial listings reviewed for this edition.
The Supreme Court’s official latest-orders listing showed orders uploaded on 21 October, but no customs-specific order was identified from the entries reviewed. CESTAT’s official notice register showed a Customs weekly dispatch report covering 12–16 October 2026, uploaded on 21 October. A dispatch report is an administrative record and should not be presented as a new judicial ruling.
Professional Impact
No new judicial principle concerning classification, valuation, refunds, confiscation, penalties or customs procedure is reported here for the reporting date. This is not a conclusion that no relevant judgment exists anywhere. Check the relevant court’s official judgment database and the case-specific order before relying on a precedent.
Official Sources
5. DGTR Trade Remedies
5.1 Copper Data Cables: Corrigendum Corrects Unit in Duty Table
Case AD(OI)-39/2025 | 21 October 2026
DGTR issued a corrigendum in the anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of copper data cables originating in or exported from China PR. The corrigendum corrects the unit in the relevant table from MT to KM.
Professional Impact
Importers and interested parties should read the corrected table alongside the underlying investigation documents. The corrigendum should not be treated as a new imposition of anti-dumping duty by itself. Any applicable duty must be verified against the relevant Central Government notification.
5.2 Counterbalance Forklifts: Deadline for PUC/PCN Comments Extended
Case AD/OI/061/2026 | 21 October 2026
DGTR extended the timeline for comments on the Product Under Consideration (PUC) and Product Control Number (PCN) methodology in the anti-dumping investigation concerning certain counterbalance forklifts originating in or exported from China PR and Japan. The revised deadline is 31 October 2026.
Professional Impact
Interested parties should review the extension and submit any required comments within the revised deadline. This is a procedural extension, not a final determination on the investigation or duty liability.
5.3 Decor Paper: Interested-Party List Published in Sunset Review
Case AD/SSR010/2026 | 21 October 2026
DGTR published an interested-party list in the sunset review concerning imports of decor paper originating in or exported from China PR. The document identifies parties registered in the review and sets out a procedure for notifying DGTR of any omission or incorrect entry within the period specified in the document.
Professional Impact
Participants should verify that their details are correctly recorded and report any omission or discrepancy according to the official procedure and timeline. Publication of the list is a procedural step, not a final duty decision.
Overall DGTR Position
These developments concern a correction to an investigation document, an extension of a submission deadline and publication of an interested-party list. None should be described as a fresh final anti-dumping duty imposition without the corresponding Central Government notification.
Official Sources
6. ICEGATE, Customs Commissionerates & Trade Facilitation
The available official-source review covered ICEGATE advisories and selected Customs Commissionerate listings. No additional qualifying nationwide ICEGATE advisory or port-specific procedural notice dated 21 October 2026 was independently confirmed for inclusion.
Professional Impact
Importers and Customs Brokers should continue checking the relevant port and Commissionerate for notices on cargo examination, storage, transshipment, document submission and clearance procedures.
Official Sources
7. WTO, WCO, HSN & Other International Trade Developments
No additional qualifying WTO announcement, HSN development or international customs measure dated 21 October 2026 was independently confirmed for inclusion in this edition.
International developments can affect trade policy, customs cooperation and technical standards, but their publication does not automatically amend Indian customs law.
Professional Impact
Verify tariff classification, rules of origin, preferential-duty eligibility and product-specific regulatory requirements against the applicable Indian framework. International announcements should not be treated as direct changes to Indian customs treatment unless implemented through the relevant legal mechanism.
Official Sources
8. e-Gazette & Implementation Watch
India–New Zealand FTA: Verify Rules and Documentary Requirements
The India–New Zealand FTA entered into force on 20 October 2026. The relevant implementation framework includes Notification No. 82/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 12 October 2026, concerning rules for determining origin, and Notification No. 32/2026-Customs, dated 16 October 2026, concerning the first tranche of tariff concessions.
CBIC Instruction No. 21/2026-Customs addresses acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin and claims involving qualifying goods in transit or under customs control when the agreement entered into force.
Professional Impact
Before claiming preferential treatment, importers and Customs Brokers should verify:
- The applicable tariff line and concession.
- Whether the goods satisfy the relevant rules of origin.
- The validity and completeness of the prescribed proof of origin.
- Correct declaration of origin particulars in the Bill of Entry.
- Any transitional requirements for goods in transit or under customs control on 20 October 2026.
Official Sources
CustomsDesk: Key Takeaways
The main developments identified for the reporting date concern adjudication, import compliance, commercial risk management and anti-dumping investigation procedures.
| Authority / Area | Finding for this edition |
|---|---|
| CBIC | Notification No. 87/2026-Customs (N.T.) concerns appointment of a Common Adjudicating Authority in the Amway India Enterprises case. |
| India–New Zealand FTA | The first-tranche tariff concession notification and e-CoO acceptance instruction remain important for eligible preferential claims. |
| DGFT | Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 concerns PSIC exemption conditions for specified metallic scrap imports. |
| DGFT | Trade Notice No. 31/2026-27 advises heightened vigilance in dealings with Julfikar Fashions Limited, Bangladesh. |
| DGTR | Copper Data Cables corrigendum corrects a unit in an investigation table. |
| DGTR | Counterbalance Forklifts PUC/PCN comment deadline extended to 31 October 2026. |
| DGTR | Decor Paper interested-party list published in the sunset review. |
| Supreme Court / High Courts / CESTAT | No qualifying new customs-related judgment or order dated 21 October was identified in the official listings reviewed. |
| ICEGATE / Customs Commissionerates | No additional qualifying nationwide advisory or port-specific notice dated 21 October was independently confirmed for this edition. |
| WTO / WCO / HSN | No additional qualifying fresh development dated 21 October was independently confirmed for inclusion. |
What Professionals Should Do
- Importers of metallic waste and scrap should verify PSIC exemption eligibility, entry-port requirements and supplier certification before shipment.
- Importers claiming India–New Zealand FTA benefits should confirm the applicable tariff concession, origin criteria and e-CoO documentation.
- Exporters and other businesses should consider DGFT’s precautionary advisory when assessing transactions with the company named in Trade Notice No. 31/2026-27.
- Parties to the specified Amway proceedings should review the CBIC notification and identify the authority and notices covered.
- Interested parties in the Counterbalance Forklifts investigation should note the 31 October 2026 PUC/PCN comment deadline.
- Participants in the Decor Paper sunset review should verify the published interested-party list.
- Importers relying on anti-dumping measures should distinguish DGTR investigation documents from final Central Government duty notifications.
- Practitioners should consult original judicial orders rather than treating a cause list, dispatch report or upload timestamp as a judgment.
Disclaimer
This article is published by CustomsDesk for general informational and professional awareness purposes only. It summarises information identified through official sources and is not intended to constitute legal, tax, customs-clearance or other professional advice.
Readers should independently verify the original Acts, rules, notifications, circulars, public notices, instructions, judgments and other official documents applicable to their circumstances. Where necessary, readers should obtain independent professional advice before taking any action.
CustomsDesk endeavours to provide accurate and timely information but does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy or continued validity of the information presented. The absence of an item from this article does not establish that no other development occurred. In the event of any discrepancy, the original official document and applicable law shall prevail.
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